Cerberus

Cerberus is a monstrous three-headed dog from Greek mythology. The gigantic hound guards the gates of Hades to prevent the ghosts of the dead from leaving the underworld.

Cerberus is described as an outlandish, vicious dog-like beast with three barking heads, blood-red eyes, greasy black fur and long lion’s claws that can tear and flay human flesh. He has a serpent for a tail and a mane of snakes.

As the watchdog of Hell, Cerberus can be found on the banks of the river Styx, where he had the task of eating any mortals who attempt to enter, and any ghosts who attempt to escape.

One of the twelve tasks of Hercules was to catch Cerberus and drag him out of hell and into the daylight. Hercules managed to achieve this task, but only after a long battle in which he was bitten by the fangs of Cerberus and mauled by the snakes growing from his mane and tail.

Cerberus has also made numerous appearances in video games, most notable is the Final Fantasy, Castlevania and Devil May Cry series.